Photocatalytic CO2 reduction to ethanol has practical value and represents a promising route toward carbon neutrality. However, there are great challenges to realizing CO2-to-ethanol conversion to date. In this work, a photocatalyst PPU/CdS, composed of a Zr-MOF UiO-66-NH2 decorated with PdPt alloy nanoparticles and coupled with CdS photosensitizer, was developed, achieving a remarkable ethanol production rate of 182.6 µmol g−1 h−1, which is superior to most of the reported systems. In situ infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations revealed the origin of the high performance: the detection of *OCCO intermediate ensures that *CO species undergoes further coupling, rather than releases as CO in the conventional pathway, because of the low energy barrier of 1.17 eV for the coupling step on PPU/CdS. Meanwhile, the presence of Pt greatly accelerates electron transfer, resulting in a significantly higher ethanol production for PPU/CdS compared to the P+PU/CdS catalyst, in which the Pd and Pt NPs exist individually.

Biochar has emerged as a highly promising electrode material for supercapacitors, benefiting from its inherent sustainability, environmental benignity, and highly porous architecture decorated with abundant functional groups. However, its specific capacitance (SC) and specific energy (SE) are severely limited by the strong interdependencies among elemental composition, pore structure, and operational parameters. As a result, the structure-performance relationships of biochar-based electrodes have long remained poorly understood, relying largely on fuzzy cognition and empirical inferences. To address this critical knowledge gap, an analytical framework bridging multidimensional input features with SC and SE was established via the integration of machine learning (ML) and eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) approaches. The eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) model exhibited the optimal performance, achieving coefficients of determination (R-2) of 0.91 for SC and 0.90 for SE. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis revealed that SC was primarily synergistically regulated by specific surface area and hydrogen content, whereas SE was dominated by nitrogen and oxygen contents. Accumulated Local Effects (ALE) further analysis demonstrated that synergistic optimization of structural stability and energy output can be achieved within moderate ranges of carbon content and pyrolysis temperature. This work clarifies the regulatory mechanism underlying the multi-feature coupling effects on the energy storage behavior of biochar, thereby providing a reliable data-driven tool for the rapid screening and directional design of high-performance biochar electrode materials for advanced supercapacitors.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) offers a compelling pathway to convert carbon emissions into value-added chemicals, yet achieving high activity, selectivity, and durability under industrial conditions remains challenging. Though copper oxides could uniquely promote C2+ electrosynthesis, their performance is dictated by dynamic oxide reconstruction, which is strongly governed by the interfacial microenvironment. Here, we report direct interfacial microenvironment regulation by constructing a 3D ordered macroporous (3DOM) architecture from layered perovskite La2CuO4. The 3DOM architecture simultaneously strengthens the surface electric field, elevates local pH, and accelerates mass transport at the interface, driving accelerated and complete reconstruction of La2CuO4 into dendritic grain-boundary-rich nano-copper. Consequently, 3DOM-La2CuO4 delivers a high C2+ partial current density of 585 mA cm-2 in a flow cell, outperforming bulk counterpart and most reported Cu-oxide-based catalysts. In a membrane-electrode assembly, stable operation is sustained for ∼ 200 h at 600 mA cm-2 with high C2+ selectivity. Combined experimental and theoretical analysis identify undercoordinated, compressively strained Cu atoms at grain boundaries as the intrinsic active sites for C2+ formation, by facilitating *COH formation, stabilizing *OCCOH intermediate, and suppressing the competing hydrogen production. This work establishes electrode-architecture-driven microenvironment engineering as a general strategy for directing oxide reconstruction and designing high-performance CO2RR catalysts.

The starvation of OH-reactants around the anode surface caused by rapid consumption during the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical problem limiting the development of anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs). Here, we present a high-valence Lewis acid incorporation strategy to enrich OH-adsorption for optimizing alkaline OER performance and for the first time demonstrate direct participation of surface hydroxyl in the alkaline OER. In particular, the optimized Sr2CoMoO6 (SCMO) with the strongest surface hydroxylation exhibits excellent alkaline OER activity and AEMWE device performance when adopted as a noble-metal-free anode electrocatalyst, achieving an industrial current density of 1 A cm-2 at a low voltage of 1.83 V and steadily operating for 100 h. Combined experimental and theoretical investigations verify that the surface hydroxyls in SCMO participate in the OER via an unusual hydrogen-bond-assisted surface hydroxyl participation mechanism. These findings offer new insights into hydroxyl electrocatalysis for AEMWE applications.

The proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) has positioned the lithium-ion battery (LIB) as a cornerstone of modern transportation, making its effective management critical for vehicle performance, safety, and longevity. Among the key states monitored by a battery management system (BMS), the state of power (SOP) is a vital metric that defines the battery's peak charge and discharge capabilities. However, accurate online estimation of SOP remains challenging due to the battery's complex, nonlinear electrochemical dynamics, and its strong dependence on operating temperature, state of charge (SOC), and state of health (SOH). This paper provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art in SOP estimation, with a particular focus on the widely adopted equivalent circuit model (ECM) framework. This review systematically categorizes and critically analyzes predominant methodologies, including direct calculation methods, advanced state observers such as the Kalman filter family, and optimization-based techniques. Furthermore, it delves into the profound impact of key influencing factors and presents a comparative analysis of different algorithmic approaches, highlighting the trade-offs between model fidelity, computational complexity, and adaptability to aging. The analysis reveals a clear paradigm shift from isolated state estimation towards integrated, multi-physics, and adaptive frameworks. Finally, current challenges such as model-plant mismatch and validation are discussed, and future research directions are identified, pointing towards the development of high-fidelity digital twins, the fusion of physics-based and data-driven models, and the implementation of cloud-to-edge architectures. This evolution towards intelligent, holistic, and lifecycle-aware battery management is pivotal for unlocking the full potential of battery technology and accelerating the transition towards a sustainable, electrified future.

Enabling fast charging of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is crucial for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). However, the associated thermal safety risks remain a major concern. Lithium plating on the anode emerges as the central pathological phenomenon bridging fast charging and thermal runaway,presenting a critical bottleneck for EV industrialization. This review provides a systematic examination of the lithium plating challenge, encompassing its triggering mechanisms under high C-rates, low temperatures, and high states of charge (SOC), advanced detection methodologies, and multi-scale mitigation strategies spanning materials, cell design, and intelligent management. A critical analysis of real-world failure accidents unequivocally positions lithium plating as a key precursor to thermal runaway.The paper further elucidates how plating alters the characteristic stages of thermal runaway. Finally, we contend that synergistic advancements across material innovation, adaptive charging protocols, and systematic thermal management are indispensable for fundamentally overcoming the lithium plating dilemma. The work aims to provide practical guidance for the industrial application of fast-charging LIBs, thereby steering their development towards enhanced safety, durability, and compatibility with large-scale EV deployment.

The interplay between electrochemical performance and thermal behavior remains a critical challenge for highvoltage nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This study systematically decouples the capacity degradation mechanisms and heat generation characteristics of Ni-rich (Ni68) LIBs under high voltage. At 0.5C/0.7C cycling rates, battery efficiencies of 95.5 %, 94.3 % and 93.1 % were achieved at 300th cycle in the range of 3-4.4 V, 3-4.45 V and 3-4.5 V, respectively. A 67 % increase in total heat generation power is achieved at 4.5 V vs. 4.4 V cycled batteries. The irreversible heat generation dominates in the full charge process (up to 98 % at 0-20 % SOC). Synergistic degradation of the graphite anode and Ni68 cathode during high-voltage cycling is demonstrated by pronounced trends in Incremental Capacity Analysis (ICA) and Differential Voltage Analysis (DVA) curves. These findings establish a clear voltage-performance-thermal behavior relationship, demonstrating that limiting charge voltage below 4.45V significantly mitigates degradation while maintaining usable capacity. Our work provides a quantitative framework for optimizing the trade-off between energy density and thermal safety in next-generation Ni-rich LIBs.

Aviation-fuel decarbonization remains a major challenge, motivating renewable electrochemical routes to jet-range intermediates from biomass-derived aldehydes. Individually, aldehydes such as furfural (FF), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and benzaldehyde (BAD) undergo electrohydrodimerization to form long-chain oxygenated polyols. In mixed systems, cross-coupling between different aldehydes yields dimers with adjustable functionality. However, selectivity in binary mixtures is difficult to control, and the mechanistic role of intermolecular interactions in directing self- versus cross-dimerization remains insufficiently defined. This work investigates FF/HMF, FF/BAD, and HMF/BAD in a three-electrode H-type cell, establishing structure-selectivity correlations and practical operating windows. In FF/HMF, conversions reach 81% (FF) and 69% (HMF) at -0.5 V vs RHE, and the mixture achieves 10 mA cm-2 at -0.29 V vs RHE compared to -0.40 V vs RHE for single-substrate benchmarks, indicating synergistic coadsorption. In FF/BAD, heterodimers constitute similar to 20-30% of identified products near -0.5 V vs RHE. In HMF/BAD, Cu foam (CF) suppresses aldehyde decomposition observed on carbon paper (CP) and raises dimer selectivity up to 45%. These results show that competitive-cooperative adsorption and complementary radical stabilization govern pathway partitioning, providing a mechanistic basis to steer binary aldehydes toward cross-coupled dimers as viable jet-fuel intermediates.

Escalating energy demands compel cost-efficient photovoltaic innovation. Silver paste has emerged as a critical bottleneck: its exorbitant cost and resource scarcity pose challenges to front-side metallization in silicon photovoltaics. This paradigm drives advanced electrode engineering to slash silver usage while preserving efficiency, thereby resolving the fundamental cost-performance dilemma of solar technology. We develop a geometricengineering strategy to reconfigure the front-side metallization of crystalline-silicon solar cells while simultaneously reducing silver consumption and safeguarding cell efficiency. A comprehensive framework for electrode structure is established through numerical and finite-element analyses; the morphology of sub-grid electrodes is systematically optimized. Simulations show that by changing the cross-sectional shape of the sub-grid electrode, silver-paste consumption can be significantly reduced without sacrificing cell performance. Computational stress profiling across front-contact geometries elucidates thermomechanical-fatigue mechanisms that govern electrode longevity under thermal cycling. Complementary density-functional-theory (DFT) simulations unravel atomicscale adhesion dynamics at Ag/metal interfaces. This multi-objective optimization framework establishes material-structure-synergy pathways for cost-efficient and highly reliable photovoltaic manufacturing.

Modulating heterointerfaces through spatially segregated active domains offers a rational strategy to decouple intermediate adsorption energetics, thereby circumventing the intrinsic scaling relationships that limit multi-step electrocatalysis. However, practical application remains challenging owing to free-energy disparities between adsorption-rich and -poor sites as well as interfacial barriers that hinder dynamic intermediate transfer. Here, we report a plasmon-driven generation of dual active sites in which localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of exsolved Ag nanoparticles generates instantaneous chemisorption promoters. Operando X-ray absorption and in-situ Raman spectroscopy with density functional theory reveal that these transient spillover sites direct OH- migration to/from adjacent Co centers, reducing the Co 3d electron occupancy (from d(6.43) to d(6.30)) and surpassing the theoretical overpotential limit (similar to 0.3 eV) of Ag. Under 530 nm light sources in Zinc-air battery application, the ICPH catalyst delivers outstanding durability over 150 h with no significant voltage loss, alongside a high energy efficiency (similar to 60%) at 50 mA cm(-2). This design principle highlights an opportunity for utilizing plasmon-driven intermediate spillover to overcome universal scaling constraints in multi-step electrocatalysis.

Artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) represents a promising strategy for stabilizing Zn electrodes by suppressing dendrite formation and parasitic reactions. However, conventional SEI designs suffer from sluggish Zn2+ transport kinetics and mechanical instability during cycling. Herein, we construct a thin chitosan@alginate (CS@SA, similar to 1.5 lm) bilayer SEI on Zn electrodes via electrodeposition. Mutually activated functional groups (-COOH in outer SA and -NH2 in inner CS) synergistically (1) facilitate the desolvation of [Zn(H2O)6]2+ , (2) block reactive H2O contact with the Zn surface, and (3) establish polymer-chain-accelerated Zn2+ transport pathways. Hydrogen-bond reconfiguration endows the CS@SA bilayer with in-situ self-healing and anti-detachment features, dynamically maintaining interfacial integrity. These merits simultaneously enhance the Zn electrode stability and Zn2+ migration kinetics. Consequently, the Zn@CS@SA electrode demonstrates a high average Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.74% over 1000 cycles at 2 mA cm-2 and 1 mAh cm-2 in the asymmetric cell. The Zn@CS@SA//MnO2 demonstrates a four-fold capacity of Zn//MnO2 after 1000 cycles at 2 A g-1. (c) 2025 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Aqueous zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs) are particularly promising owing to their intrinsic safety and costeffectiveness, yet their energy density is severely limited by the inferior Zn2+ adsorption capacity of conventional carbon cathodes. Herein, a rational design of biomass-derived carbon cathodes with tailored pore architecture is demonstrated, guided by a fundamental understanding of the Zn2+ adsorption mechanism. Interaction energy calculations based on Density Functional Theory identify 6-12 & Aring; as the optimal pore size for enhancing [Zn(H2O)6]2+ adsorption. Accordingly, a facile and mild pyrolysis strategy is developed to synthesize biochar with a hierarchically porous structure, high specific surface area and abundant oxygen functional groups. The resulting ZIHC delivers a high specific capacitance of 258 F g-1, a battery-level energy density of 138 Wh kg-1, and excellent cycling stability (95% retention after 10,000 cycles). This work demonstrates the critical role of pore sieving in guiding the synthesis of high-performance carbon materials for advanced energy storage.

Precise control over battery interphase formation is critical yet challenging, since its compositional and spatial characteristics dictate cyclability and fast-charging performance. Compared to the anode interphase, revealing and engineering the cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI), which is rooted in the electrode surface chemistry, has received less attention. Herein, we employ biomass-derived porous carbon as the platform with tailorable oxygen-containing functional groups to control the CEI formation on the carbon-sulfur cathode. The results demonstrate that oxygen functional groups suppress the excessive localized growth of inorganic phases and promote the formation of a dense and uniform inorganic-organic hybrid CEI. This microstructurally engineered interphase not only effectively inhibits the polysulfide dissolution but also markedly enhances Na+ transport. By adopting the oxygen-rich surface engineering strategy, the room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries deliver outstanding cycling stability with a capacity of 694.2 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles and exhibit excellent rate performance. This study establishes a clear correlation between surface chemistry and CEI microstructure and provides fundamental guidance for the rational design of advanced electrodes for metal-sulfur batteries.

The incorpration of electron-delocalized CeO 2 into pollen-derived carbon facilitates the coversion of sulfur species.

The widespread deployment of electrochemical capacitors in energy-intensive technologies is fundamentally limited by their low energy density and severe self-discharge. The search of high-voltage supercapacitors has the appeal of an effective solution to increase the energy density, but suffers from risk of electrolyte decomposition and self-discharge. We herein address this challenge through a synergistic electrode/electrolyte co-design that integrates a lignin-derived porous carbon electrode with a tailored Li+-based weakly solvating electrolyte containing a functional fluorinated diluent. The porous carbon features sub-nanometer pores that are geometrically matched to the weakly solvated Li+ ions, enabling stable operation at an unprecedented 4.0 V with a high energy density of 77.4 Wh kg⁻1 and over 90 • A porous carbon electrode with a precisely tailored pore architecture was synthesized from sustainable lignin-derived biomass. • Integration of this porous carbon with a weakly solvating electrolyte affords a capacitance of 139 F g⁻1 and stable operation at 4.0 V. • This synergistic design achieves a high energy density of 77.4 Wh kg⁻1 and long cyclability with 90

Tremendous electrolyte additives have demonstrated effectiveness in the zinc-ion batteries, however still face the serious issue of trade-off between Zn utilization, areal capacity and anti-calendar aging those are important for practical application. Here, the 3-Cyclohexylamine-2-hydroxypropionic acid (CAPSO) is proposed to address this issue considering its "anchoring-desolvating-shielding" spatially configurated interface layer on the Zn electrode surface. In this interface layer, the sulfonic acid group enables CAPSO molecular strongly anchored on the Zn electrode surface, the amino and hydroxyl groups simultaneously facilitate desolvation and ionic transport, and the hydrophobic carbon ring as the shielding layer to create a local H2O-poor environment. Under these synergistic effects, the Zn electrode demonstrates high stability, high areal capacity, high Zn utilization and anti-calendar aging performance. The symmetric cells show a long lifespan of 700 h at high current density of 20 mA cm-2, 200 h under high areal capacity of 40 mAh cm-2, 150 h at a high Zn utilization of 75% under 5 mA cm-2/5 mAh cm-2, and excellent anti-aging performance of 3000 h at 1 mA cm-2/1 mAh cm-2 with 24 h rest for each cycle; The full cell retains 73.73% of capacity over 200 cycles under low N/P = 2.5.

Carrying out charge-discharge cycles at high rates is limited by silicon's poor electrical conductivity and significant volume expansion, making it difficult to fully utilize the high capacity advantage of silicon-based anodes. On this occasion, we propose an effective strategy to stabilize silicon-carbon anodes and enhance rate capability by functionalizing chitosan with phosphoric acid to obtain a chitosan-derived binder, followed by casting the electrode and in situ carbonization. This in situ carbonization process simultaneously constructs nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich carbon networks to enhance electron/ion transport, while also forming robust silicon-carbon interface bonds (Si-O-P, Si-O-C, Si-N-C). This ensures stable surface contact during cycling and mitigates volume expansion. This one-step-formed silicon working electrode exhibits a high silicon loading of up to 86%, demonstrating high initial Coulombic efficiency (87.42%), stable cycling performance (82.3% capacity retention after 600 cycles at 4 A g-1), and outstanding rate capability (1547 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1). This work provides a viable modification strategy and production application prospects for high-performance silicon-based anodes in next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Iron-Nitrogen-carbon (Fe-N-C) catalysts are promising substitutes for Pt-based catalysts in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for zinc-air battery. However, the sluggish kinetics of ORR on conventional Fe-N-C catalysts resulted from difficult desorption of *OH intermediate and the slow mass transfer significantly impede their practical application. Herein, a novel composite template-assisted strategy is proposed to prepare Fe-N4 sites on unusual fullerene-like curved surface featuring stretched Fe-N bonds and hierarchically porous structure (denoted as f-Fe-NC). With unique curved Fe-N4 sites and hierarchical porosity, f-Fe-NC exhibits an impressive half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.91 V vs. RHE. Moreover, the mass activity of f-Fe-NC is nearly sevenfold of that of ordinary Fe-NC featuring planar Fe-N4 sites and microporous structure, and the turnover frequency of f-Fe-NC increases at exponent level compared to ordinary Fe-NC. Theoretical calculations demonstrate the reduced energy barrier of rate-determining step and favorable *OH desorption on f-Fe-NC because of the degradation of bond order of Fe-OH bond. Zinc-air battery based on f-Fe-NC exhibits a power density of 182 mW cm-2 and a specific capacity of 811 mAh g-1 at 10 mA cm-2, overtaking those of commercial Pt/C. Our study opens a new avenue for the rational design of electrochemically and structurally advanced ORR catalysts.

The conversion of nitrate (NO3-) contaminants into ammonia (NH3) through electrochemical reduction presents a viable strategy for the dual purposes of wastewater purification and ammonia production. Meanwhile, dealing with hazardous heavy metals (Cu, Ni, etc.) in the electroplating industry is a global mandate, incurring substantial cost and consuming vast amounts of energy. This work integrates the treatment of Cu and Ni in electroplating wastewater with the nitrate reduction reaction (NO3-RR) for sustainable fuel and electricity generation. A facile and cost-effective CuxNiy/CN catalyst, which represents a CuNi alloy on nitrogen-doped carbon foam (CN), is developed from the waste electroplating water and melamine resin. Among various CuxNiy/CN catalysts, Cu0.5Ni0.5/CN exhibits enhanced NO3-RR performance with a high ammonia yield rate (1755 mu g h-1 mgcat-1) and Faradaic efficiency (92.4%), outperforming most of the reported catalysts. The performance of Cu0.5Ni0.5/CN at low nitrate concentration verifies the effectiveness of catalysts for potential industrial application. Theoretical calculations reveal that the reduced energy barrier facilitates the hydrogenation of *NO2 to *NO2H over Cu0.5Ni0.5/CN, favoring the subsequent reduction to NH3. A Zn-nitrate battery is designed for power generation with the Cu0.5Ni0.5/CN catalyst, exhibiting a voltage of 1.36 V and power density of 1.51 mW cm-2. This study opens a new avenue to recycle both industrial (electroplating, nitrate) and domestic (melamine resin) wastes for sustainable fuel and power generation.